From video games to manicures, CK Designed It is the tomboy pushing the boundaries of nail art
This is A HOT MINUTE WITH, a quick-fire interview series championing all the rising talent catapulting into fashion, art and music’s fickle stratosphere. From pinch-me moments to bad dates and even worse chat-up lines, think of it as an overindulgent conversation – like the ones you have in sticky club toilets at 4.A.M. Except these guests don’t regret the overshare…
From butterflies and pearls to piercings and rubber duckies, CK is the American artist redefining our definition of nail art and turning our fingertips into more than just mere accessories.
Courtesy of @ckdesignedit
NAME Everyone pretty much calls me CK - kind of stuck around from my gaming days.
LOCATION Dallas, Texas. Currently Brooklyn, New York.
STAR SIGN Leo
May Garland: Hey CK, what nails are you wearing today?
CK: I’m wearing a sort of incandescent mix. I used a tie-dye-like nail foil with a pastel neon powder on top for a chrome effect, and then added some big chunky rhinestones.
MG: Tell us about the ideas behind your nail creations. Where do you find your inspiration?
CK: Sometimes it comes from unique objects I find. Other times it’s the creativity that surrounds a certain talent’s look and feel — their performance, fashion, or even music video styling. I’m also hugely inspired by the world of drag. Drag takes creativity and fashion to new levels in ways that most people don’t get to, IMO. All notions of what is expected are broken from the moment a person steps into drag, it really can change your life.
MG: Do you remember the first time you got your nails done?
CK: I don’t know that I really remember the very first time…I was such a tomboy growing up actually, so the only times I would get my nails done would be for homecoming or prom. And of course because it was the early ‘00s, it was french tips! It’s so funny to see they are making a comeback lately.
MG: What makes you feel powerful, confident and like a boss bitch?
CK: Many things can make me feel like I can take on the world; a new experience, a connection, travelling or seeing my friends thrive in their own passions. It’s really motivating. But I have all these creative ideas swirling in my head constantly, and being able to focus on one and do everything I can to make it come to life, then seeing it existing, is really special. Like it’s my creative baby in a sense, it’s powerful to see it grow up.
MG: You’re a bit of a master gamer…what game are you obsessed with at the moment?
CK: Game master sounds like such a serious title! But I do play a lot of games lol. There are three games I rotate with almost daily — Pokémon Go, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, and The Master Chief Collection, specifically to play Halo 2.
MG: If you could only choose one gaming platform to use forever, which would it be?
CK: I definitely have played on PC or various consoles and handhelds throughout my gaming life, but once I discovered the original Xbox, it was sort of it. Each time Microsoft comes out with a new version of the Xbox, I’m always on it. Still struggling to get my hands on the Series X right now, ugh!
MG: Favourite Pokémon character?
CK: Well for storyline and cuteness for sure Mew! But when it comes to strength in the games, it’s got to be Mewtwo, especially in Pokémon GO. IMO the best all around Legendary in the game, which I’m sure others might debate me on.
MG: How do you think fashion and gaming can work together, if at all?
CK: There are so many ways that fashion and gaming can blend. Even though they live in two different realities, the virtual and physical, they belong together. You’ve seen this more recently with crossovers with fashion in games or using gaming platforms to present runways. But there really is a whole untapped world that gaming can create for the experience side of fashion, if not the fashion itself.
MG: Is there anyone who you think has combined fashion and gaming well so far?
CK: I think some of the best fashion and gaming collabs have been the ones that let you customise your avatars. It’s cute to wear something from a comic book, or a movie, but it’s not often you get a look that says fashion. I think one that has done really well has been the GUCCI x NORTH FACE collab for Pokémon GO. In that game I change my outfit often, whether for the season change, or because new fits have come out. And when that collab came out I was happy to see something with some real style. But I do think there are other ways fashion can work with gaming for more.
MG: What does fashion mean to you?
CK: Fashion can be whatever you feel comfortable in that expresses who you are. But I find it’s the most fun, when you can create a character to live in through fashion and styling. Whether that’s with a brightly colored wig, an epic nail moment, or the clothes you wear, fashion can show more of who you are outwardly in as little or as much as you want. And I’m always all for more.
MG: Who would you be most excited to collaborate with right now?
CK: IRIS VAN HERPEN, I mean the architecture and drama of their pieces, says enough; GRIMES, because I live for everything they are a part of and create, talk about dream worlds; AARON PHILIP, legit on their way to supermodel status if not already. I would love to have my nails adorn their hands one day!
MG: What is the future of nail art in your mind?
CK: The future of nail art to me, is all about material and tech, mixed with creativity. I think the way people have been more widely choosing to get intricate nail art is exciting. It means we as nail artists get to push the boundaries on materials, and what we can use to adorn the nail. I think tech will help to let artists create their own materials, and make their designs more unique to themselves and their style. That is the part that is really intriguing to me. Like how can I create a new material or texture or even color for a nail using tech. But in the end, what really makes a piece catch your eye, is what comes from the mind of the artist. I think if we can push our imagination, we can show the world a new approach to nail art.
MG: Where do you see yourself in 10 years time?
CK: This question always makes me laugh a bit. I’m such a pick up and go kind of person, I don’t like to sit still too often, and I love to explore and see more. A real, what else is there kind of mentality. So predicting my future based on a linear timeline is a bit difficult. But if I had to think about what I hope to be doing — it’s taking nail art beyond just a physical accessory. How can it become more of an experience? How can we let others in on that experience as well. I have some ideas, but I’ll have to save those for later ;)
MG: When you’re not working, what can we find you doing?
CK: Nail art isn’t my full time job actually…I’m a Creative Director in Advertising, creating TV commercials, what some might call cultural moments, and social campaigns, etc. But as I feel it is with most creative people, I’m always thinking of other ideas and projects to work on outside of the ad world or nail art. I hope to bring as many of those to life that I can. But right now, nail art is what brings me the most joy to create.
